How-do, Gang.

Another active B&B forum member here who realized it was time to stop lurking at SRP and get involved.

I've been a Merkur HD user for a year or so, but I've always known I needed to learn how to use and maintain a straight. It's something I plan to approach slowly and with a healthy dose of research, which I've been engaged in for about a month now. Every day I'm reading and searching and typing key words.

Recently, I put together an initial list of future investments, among them a round point 5/8 or 6/8, with a 1/4 hollow ground, something inexpensive to suffer all my newbie mistakes.
I also was thinking a Tony Miller horsehide/linen strop, a latigo practice strop, a paddle strop with chromium oxide and maybe, eventually, a DMT D8EE for resharpening.

I mentioned all this just last night at B&B, and then it struck me - maybe you guys should get a chance to critique that list of potential buys.

So, here I am. To those of you who have contributed so much to this lurker's learning, I thank you.